NZSA CEO’s September Report In this update, NZSA CEO Gary Morrison talks staff poaching, PSPLA Covid-19 protocols, withdrawal of copper services, vocational education transition to WDCs, virtual reality training platform, and more.
Gary Morrison is CEO of the New Zealand Security Association (NZSA). A qualified accountant, Gary originally joined Armourguard Security as a junior accountant and held several roles over two decades prior to appointment as GM for New Zealand and Fiji, after which he established Icon Security Group.
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Covid-19 We continue to distribute information relative to government announcements and applicable subsidies and support mechanisms, however, we are also mindful of not bombarding our members with superfluous information at this time. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact me on gary@security.org.nz and we will assist as far as possible, including liaison with government contacts and agencies as required. What is very clear is that security workers are again providing critical front-line essential services and performing to very high standards, often in difficult and confronting circumstances. There have been a number of videos posted on social media platforms showing security staff being abused or treated with contempt and without exception, the security staff have handled the situation professionally and with skill. Well done and a big thanks to all security staff working in critical roles. PSPLA Covid-19 protocol The PSPLA have issued the following Amendment dated 23 August 2021. 1. If Covid restrictions are at Level 3 or Level 4 anywhere in New Zealand the PSPLA will continue to process all applications for licences and certificates and deal with complaints in its usual manner, but with the following exceptions: Licences and certificates and official IDs will be sent to the Authorities office after printing to be posted out to the applicants rather than being sent to Post Shop for collection.
People who have had licences or certificates approved and their IDs printed and sent to their local Post Shop, but are unable to collect them because the Post Shop is closed, can apply to the Authority for an exemption to work without displaying their ID. Such applications are to be made by email to PSPLA@justice.govt. nz and should contain the licence or certificate holder’s full name and PSPLA application number. All in-person hearings will be changed to telephone or video hearings. If this is not possible they will be rescheduled for a future date.
2. If Covid restrictions are at Level 2 or lower the above exceptions will no longer apply and the PSPLA will as far as practicable operate in its usual manner. 3. This protocol applies until revoked or modified by the Authority. The NZSA would like to commend the PSPLA for their proactive stance on this however we will lobby the Authority for further concessions around licence and certificate applications should the country, or any specific regions, face extended operations under Level 3 or 4. Withdrawal of copper services by local fibre providers The NZSA has recently been in consultation with Chorus with regards to the withdrawal of copper line services and migration to fibre, and how this will impact onto the large number of customers still utilising copper for their alarm monitoring services.
October/November 2021
